Foreigners in Slovakia, page 30
News and features on living in Slovakia
Eyeing Japanese investments
SLOVAKIA has never been a traditional destination for Japanese investors, some of whom view this small country simply as part of a bigger central-European region. But the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) believes that Slovakia can serve as an entry point for Japanese investors into Europe. While the Slovak-Japanese Chamber of Commerce (SJOK) does not register any change in the interest of Japanese investors in Slovakia, SARIO reports growing interest among Japanese companies in investing in Slovakia.
Slovak musical diva enchants Koreans
THE CULTURAL exchange between Slovakia and the Republic of Korea works both ways. Korean culture has a strong presence in Slovakia, and in late June and early July the ensemble of the Nová Scéna musical theatre from Bratislava, with soloist Sisa Lelkes Sklovská, participated in a musical festival in the south-Korean city of Daegu.
Seeing the shared traits
SLOVAKIA remains attractive to foreign investors thanks to its strategic geographic location, political and economic stability, and high labour productivity. However, in the context of the competition presented by the neighbouring countries, there is room for improvement, “especially in such areas as reducing the tax burden, infrastructure development and efficiency of law enforcement,” said Sang-hoon Park, the ambassador of the Republic of Korea, in an interview with The Slovak Spectator.
Institutions of the Republic of Korea in Slovakia
Embassy of the Republic of KoreaAmbassador: Sang-hoon Parksvk.mofat.go.kr
A growing love of Japanese culture
THE YEAR 2013 represented a milestone for Japan and Slovakia, being the 20th anniversary of Slovak-Japanese diplomatic ties. To mark the event and solidify those ties, the Japanese Embassy to Slovakia promoted a range of cultural events in Slovakia, which have spilled over into 2014 for the V4 plus Japan Exchange Year.
Japan: General facts
Political system: Parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarchyCapital: TokyoTotal area: 378,000 square kilometresPopulation: 127 millionLanguage: JapaneseCurrency: Yen
Slovak exhibits in Japan
COLLEGE lecturer and graduate of a visual-arts academy, Jozef Jackanič, exhibited his work in the Japanese city of Gotemba at the end of 2013. In February 2014, his creations were presented at the Slovak Embassy to Japan from where it was also lent to presentations in Tokyo and other parts of the country.
V4 theatre plays translated into Korean
THE VISEGRAD-FOUR (V4) countries - Poland, Hungary, The Czech Republic and Slovakia - have intensified their joint contacts with the Republic of Korea, in part to mark the V4’s 20th anniversary, as well as the 20th anniversary of mutual ties.
Turning challenges into benefits
WHEN preparing for his diplomatic mission to Slovakia while still in Tokyo, Akio Egawa came across the name of Major Theodor Edler von Lerch, the Austro-Hungarian soldier who brought skiing to Japan. “I think in Slovakia not many people know this name, but in Japan, Edler von Lerch, born in Bratislava, is considered to be the father of skiing, as he introduced skiing to Japan more than 100 years ago,” said Japanese Ambassador Egawa in an interview with The Slovak Spectator, which covered a number of aspects of Slovak and Japanese links.
The Republic of Korea: General facts
Political system: Presidential republicCapital: SeoulTotal area: 99,720 square kilometresPopulation: 49 millionLanguage: KoreanCurrency: Won
RAF memorial unveiled
DESPITE numerous commemorative events and memorials to remember the victims of the Second World War, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have until recently lacked a permanent memorial which would express the thanks of the United Kingdom for their contribution in the war. Not any more.
Tradition of English Fridays
THE THIRD chief of the general staff of the Slovak Armed Forces, Milan Maxim has continued the tradition of the so-called English Fridays introduced by the former chief of the general staff Ľubomír Bulík. On Fridays all official meetings are held in English, the main working language of NATO.
Globe tour reaches Bratislava
THE FAMOUS Shakespeare’s Globe theatre embarked on a world tour in spring (marking the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth in April), visiting 205 countries worldwide. The show made its 27th stop at Bratislava’s Slovak National Theatre (SND) on June 24.
UK cultural exports a hit with Slovaks
BRITAIN’S culture and lifestyle have found a receptive audience in Slovakia. The year 2013 brought a milestone marking the 20th anniversary of relations between independent Slovakia and the UK, resulting in a range of British cultural events.
British-Slovak business ties stay in harmony
WHILE the United Kingdom is already a significant trade and investment partner of Slovakia, both sides continue to further intensify bilateral economic relations. The launch of the British Slovak Business Centre and the June visit of the Slovak economy minister to the UK are some of the latest impetuses for strengthening relations.
UK institutions in Slovakia
British EmbassyCharge d’Affaires: Gill Fraserwww.ukinslovakia.fco.gov.uk
Košice inhabitants can meet Scottish writers
THE LITERARY festival Mesiac Autorského Čítania (Month of Authors Reading) brings writers closer to readers in four cities across three neighbouring countries (the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland), all sharing the same 62 authors in a total of 248 book readings. The festival’s 15th year takes place between July 1 and August 3 in Brno, Ostrava, Košice and Wroclaw. Of the participating authors, 31 are Czech and Slovak, with the same number coming from Scotland – which is the honorary guest country this year. The reading starts with an evening in Brno before moving on to the other cities.
Slovak buckets in royal palace
DURING the communist era Kovotvar Kúty used to supply the whole Slovak population with zinc galvanised buckets and watering cans. Nowadays these garden accessories of simple and practical designs can be found in e-shops in German and the UK, even in the Highgrove shop of Prince Charles in Buckingham Palace, the Hospodárske Noviny economic daily wrote in February.
London-Košice flights popular
THE LAUNCH of a regular route between Košice in eastern Slovakia and the London airport Luton was one of the milestones of Košice airport in 2013. The route, which Hungarian low-cost airlines Wizz Air launched in mid-September, has proved popular in both directions. After less than nine months of operation the airport has welcomed 50,000 passengers on this route.
British Chamber elects new board
THE BRITISH Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic (BCCSR) has elected a new Board of Directors. This highly anticipated vote, which took place on June 30, will have significant implications on the future of the British Slovak Business Centre (BSBC), the chamber and the centre informed in a press release.
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